With over 15 million students and several million faculty and staff at U.S. institutions, campus safety is paramount for the higher education community, public officials, parents, and the public-at-large. Yet, according to a 2019 study conducted by the Association of American Universities, nearly one in four female undergraduates report having been the victim of sexual assault or misconduct. Fewer than a third of those respondents report the incidents to campus or local authorities because they don’t feel that they warrant follow-up.
In early 2015, Sigma Nu Fraternity (Sigma Nu) and Zeta Tau Alpha Women’s Fraternity (ZTA) noted with alarm the rising prevalence of campus sexual assault allegations and resolved to act. They built a core educational program aimed at addressing the issue of sexual assault and bystander intervention on college campuses with a particular emphasis on prevention. As a result, they reached an audience of over 20,000 students in over 300 collegiate chapters across North America through workshops that allow participants to play out real-world scenarios in a safe environment and shift the dialogue from raising awareness to applying actionable prevention methods.
[Program participants] recognize problematic situations at a higher level and have more confidence in addressing them. We are seeing more members willing to call out issues they are seeing in their chapters and a willingness to bring that to the attention of the larger chapter and our national organization.
– Scott Smith, Director of Leadership Development, Sigma Nu Fraternity
Did you know?
1 in 4 female undergraduates report having been the victim of sexual assault or misconduct.
Participating Organizations
Sigma Nu Fraternity (Sigma Nu)
Zeta Tau Alpha Women’s Fraternity (ZTA)
